The Association of African Universities (AAU), in collaboration with UNESCO and the Council on Higher Education (CHE) (South Africa), organized a regional workshop on the theme: "The Implications of WTO/GATS for Higher Education in Africa". The workshop was held from 27-29 April 2004 in Accra, Ghana. It succeeded in bringing together high profile participants, including trade and education ministers and other senior policy-makers, Vice-Chancellors and other leaders of public and private universities, heads of regional research and higher education organizations, representatives of national and regional regulatory agencies, sub-regional and international organizations, donors, advocacy networks, as well as consultants, journalists and other major stakeholders. A total of 67 participants mostly drawn from 16 African countries, and others coming from Europe, the Middle East, and Canada, took part in the workshop.

The workshop participants explored the issues related to GATS and its implications for higher education Africa, noted the transformations in African higher education, identified the gaps in research and advocacy in the context of the internationalisation of higher education in Africa, and unanimously adopted the attached Declaration to affirm their commitments and guide the concerted actions of all major stakeholders.